Sonic tube



Patented Jan. 8, 1952 SONIC TUBE George H. Marmont, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation oi Delaware Application September 18, 1946, Serial No. 697,325

13 Claims. (Cl. 313-303) This invention relates to vacuum tubes and more particularly to a rotatable beam tube of the high vacuum type.

Broadly the invention comprehends a vacuum tube capable of producing a number of tones in integer or octave relationship to one another, either individually or collectively.

An object of 'the invention is to provide a vacuum tube capable of producing a given musione another constitutes a sectionalized anode 24 connected as by a lead to one of the pins I4.

Each section of the anode 20 has spaced tabs on its rim and these tabs extend through slots in an insulator 22 and grip the adjacent section of the anode. This serves to fixedly support the insulators 22 in spaced relation to one another. Each of the insulators 22 has a concentrically disposed opening registering with the openings in cal note in a variety of scales. the sections of the anode 20, and a diameter Another object of the invention is to provide greater than that of the anode. Because of their a vacuum tube capable of producing a given musienlarged diameter the insulators 22 extend beyond cal note in an elective scale or in a plurality of the circumference of the anode and provide suitelective scales simultaneously. able supports for the leads of the other elements Another object of the invention is to provide a of the tube. vacuum tube including a plurality of grids, a Insulators 24 and 26 suitabl secured tothe pattern electrode associated with each grid, and respective ends of the anode have spaced tabs an anode and a cathode both in common with the 28 and 30 which engage the wall of the envelope grids and the pattern electrodes. and'serve to support the anode against displace- Another object of the invention is to provide 20 ment, and an insulator 32 is supported on each a vacuum tube including a plurality of grids, a section of the anode. different pattern electrode associated with each Grid elements 34 and 36 are superimposed on grid, and an anode and a cathode both common each 01' the insulators 22 and 32. Each of the to the grids and the pattern electrodes. grid elements includes a disc having a concen- Another object ofthe invention is to provide a 25 trically disposed sleeve 38 and a peripheral tab vacuum tube capable of producing a single note 40. The grid elements are assembled in pairs or a plurality of notes the signal amplitudes of with the sleeves 38 extended in opposite direcwhich ma be controlled by the grid potential tions, except at the respective ends of the anode applied. where there is but one grid element with the Another object of the invention is to provide a sleeves thereof extended inwardly of the anode. vacuum tube capable of producing a single note The sleeves 38 are concentrically disposed with or a plurality of notes and of controlling the relation to the openings in the respective sections signal amplitudes of the notes produced by the of the anode 20, and the peripheral tabs 40 of the potential applied to the grids of the tube. grid elements extend through suitable openings A further object of the invention is to provide in the wall of the anode. The tab 40 of one grid a vacuum tube including spaced grids connected element in each pair is connected to the tab of in parallel, a pattern electrode having several the oppositely disposed grid element of the pair cycles of pattern between the grids, an' anode of grid elements immediately above, and to one and a cathode axially disposed with relation" to of the pins 14 which, in turn, is connected in a the grids and the pattern electrode. ke circuit, not shown.

Othe jects and advantages of the invention A pattern electrode 42 is superimposed on each will appear from the following description when pair of grid elements. Each pattern electrode intaken in connection with the drawings forming a cludes a cup 44 having in its bottom a concenpart of this specification, and in which: trically disposed opening registering with the Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the tube with the openings in the sections of the anode and the grid 41) envelope partl broken away, elements, and the rim of the cup is deformed Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perand/or cut to provide a profile 46 for the rendition spective, and of. a specific tone, and the pattern electrodes are Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in secconnected in parallel and to one of the pins l4 tion. 5 which, in turn, is connected in the key circuit.

Referring to the drawings, a base I0 having a key l2 and a plurality of pins l4 supports an envelope It for the elements of the tube. A stack of eight corresponding inverted interlocking cups I! having concentric openings registering with A filamentary cathode 48 is connected to one of the pins l4 which, in turn, is connected to a cathode bus bar, not shown. The cathode extends axially of the anode, the grid elements and the pattern electrodes and through an axial open- 3 ing in the insulator 26 and a light spring 50 con nected to the cathode and to a fixed support 52 on the insulator 26 serves to impose tension on the cathode so that it will remain in the desired position under all conditions, regardless of temperature change resulting in expansion thereof.

A bracket or support 54 on the insulator 26 supports a plate 65 generally known in the art as a "getter. The getter may be of any preferred type suitable for the collection of gas which may be in the envelope.

In use, the anode and the pattern electrode are held at a convenient positive potential such as 100 volts relative to the cathode potential. Normally the grid is held at sufficient negative potential to suppress electron emissions from the cathode. However, when a signal is introduced to one of the grids the grid assumes a more positive potential (but never one more positive than the cathode), thereby allowing electrons to be attracted and collected by the anode and the pattern electrode.

The tube is supported in a conventional rotatable cylindrical magnet having diametrically opposite poles effective to create a magnetic field in diametral relation to the tube as shown for instance in Figure 7 of my co-pending application, Serial No. 697,324, filed September 16, 1946, and which is now Patent No. 2,480,945, granted September 6, 1949. This magnetic field acts upon the electrons emitted from the cathode in such a manner as to compose them into a fiat sheet or plane which is parallel to the lines of magnetic flux and which includes the cathode.

The electrons are electrostatically attracted to the anode and are collected in part by the pattern electrode and in part by the anode. Clearly then, the proportion of electrons collected by the pattern electrode depends upon the angle of rotation of the beam at any particular instant.

In other words, the number of electrons coliected by the pattern electrode varies as the magnetic field rotates. From this it is clear that an electrical signal appearing upon either the pattern electrode or the anode, or upon both may be suitably connected to an amplifier and loudspeaker to produce a tone. All of the grids are held at a negative voltage. Accordingly, when a signal is introduced to a grid, electrons flow to the pattern electrode and anode resulting in the generation of a single tone. It is, of course, to be understood that a signal may be introduced to each 01' the'grids, resulting in the generation of as many tones as signals applied to the grids.

A feature of the tube is a plurality of cooperative elements capable of producing a number of tones in integer or octave relationship to one another. The tones may be produced individually or collectively.

One section of the tube has a pattern electrode containing two cycles. Accordingly, as the magnet rotates a tone is produced, the fundamental frequency of which is twice the rotatable frequency of the magnet. Another section of the tube has a pattern electrode containing four cycles and, accordingly, it will produce a tone an octave higher. Yet another section of the tube has a pattern electrode containing eight cycles and will therefore produce a tone two octaves above the first tone, and so on. It is to be borne in mind that the pattern electrodes are not simple sine waves, but contain a fundamental of frequency and the desired harmonics. A suitable electrical circuit for the tube is fully described in my co-pending application Ser. No.

4 697,324, filed September 16, 1946, allowed March 10, 1949.

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principle involved is susceptible of numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vacuum tube a cathode, a sectionalized anode, a plurality of grids supported between the sections of the anode, and a plurality of pattern electrodes arranged coaxially of and supported on the grids, and means for maintaining the cathode in axial relation to the anode, the grids and the pattern electrodes.

2. In a vacuum tube an anode comprising a plurality of cylindrical members each having an inwardly turned flange on one end and spaced tabs on its other end, the tabs on one member gripping the flanged end of the adjacent member, and insulators between the members.

3. In a vacuum tube, an anode comprising a plurality of cylindrical members each having an inturned flange on one end and spaced tabs on its other end, insulators having a greater diameter than that of the cylindrical members and spaced openings, the tabs on each member extending through the openings in one of the insulators and gripping the flanged end of the adjacent member.

4. In a vacuum tube a sectionalized anode having interlocking parts and insulators locked between the parts.

5. In a vacuum tube an anode including alike interlocking cylindrical members and insulators locked between the members and extended inwardly and outwardly of the members.

6. In a vacuum tube alike grid elements each having a concentrically disposed sleeve, said grid elements being arranged back to back and an insulator between the elements.

7. In a vacuum tube spaced grid elements connected in parallel each including a disc having a concentrically disposed sleeve, said sleeves arranged coaxially and in oppositely disposed relation to one another and an insulator between the elements.

8. In a vacuum tube a pattern electrode including a cylindrical member having an inturned flange on one end and repeated cycles of groups of like contours on its other end.

9. A vacuum tube comprising separate groups of grids, the grids in each group being connected in parallel, a pattern electrode associated with each group of grids and a cathode and an anode both common to the grids and to the pattern electrodes.

10. A vacuum tube comprising spaced groups of grids, pattern electrodes connected in parallel and arranged one between the grids of each group of grids, and a cathode and an anode both common to the grids and to the pattern electrodes.

11. A vacuum tube comprising grid elements arranged in spaced pairs and connected in parallel, pattern electrodes of varied contours connected in parallel and arranged one between each pair of grids, and a cathode and an anode both arranged coaxially of the grids and the pattern electrodes.

12. A vacuum tube comprising a sectionalized cylindrical anode, each section having an inturned flange, grid elements supported on the flanges and connected in pairs. 2. pattern elec- 5 trode supported on one of the grid elements between each pair of grid elements, and a cathode axially disposed with relation to the anode, the grid elements and the pattern electrodes.

13. A vacuum tube comprising a sectionalized cylindrical anode, an inturned flange on each section of the anode, grid elements supported on each of the flanges in coaxial relation to the anode and connected in pairs, 9. pattern electrode superimposed on one of the grid elements of each pair in coaxial relation to the anode and the grid elements, and a cathode supported coaxially of the anode. the grid elements and the pattern electrodes.

GEORGE H. MARMONT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

6 UNITED s'ra'ms PATENTS Number Number 10 1,053

Name Date Bancroft et a1 Nov. 12, 1872 Edwards et a1 Apr. 25, 1933 Loughridge July 21, 1936 Hitchcock Jan. '12, 1937 Shoenberg et al Feb. 8, 1938 Yonkers, Jr. Dec. 6. 1938 Gutton et al. Feb. 14, 1939 Teal May 30, 1939 Hollmann Oct. 17, 1939 Wagner Nov. 12. 1940 Thompson Aug. 26. 1941 Hecht et al. Jan. 1, 1946 Eitel et al. May 14. 1946 Skellett a July 5. 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Oct. 15, 1950 

